Power-actuated balance-plow



5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

C. M. MOTTE,

POWER -AcTuATEn BALANCE mow.

` Patented Oct. 12, 1920.

v APPLICATION FILED MAY25. |918. 1,355,409.

C. NI. MOTTE.

POWER ACTUATED BALANCE PLOW.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, 1918.

Patented Oct. 12, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

@www C. M. MOTTE.

POWER ACTUATED BALANCE PLOW.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, IsIs.

Patented 0151111920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

@bymmozza A per Atto'rfwy,

C. Nl. MOTTE.

POWER ACTUATED BALANCE PLOW.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25. 1918.

Patented 001.12, 192,0.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

y nwe/@term C. M. MOTTE.

POWER ACTUATED BALANCE PLOW.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2551918.

Patented Oct. 12, 1920.

5 SHEETS-,SHEET 5.

CHARLES ivrAnIns Morris', on rams, FRANCE.

POWER-ACTUATED BALANCE-PLOW.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented oet. 12, ieee.

Application filed May 25, 1918. Serial No. 236,633.

T 0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, @Harinas Mamas Mo'r'rn, of No. 53 Avenue Se'cretan,l Paris, France, engineer, have invented a Power- Actuated Balance-Plow, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The present invention relates to a poweractuated plow of that kind comprising' two groups of with respect to one another and working alternately.

l Plows at present in use are generally hauled either by an independent Vtractor constituting an automobile vehicle moving very slowly, or by a cable woundy on' a drum and passing through a fixed point.

In the former case, when the plow is hauled by a tractor, the headlands or clear spaces reserved at the ends of the field to enable the machines to turn around, are of large dimensions, for a balance plow coniprising a separate tractor is of considerable length. These headlands or clear spaces subsequently have to be plowed by means of a plow drawn by animaltraction.

Furthermore at the end of each displacement in'one direction it is necessary to turn the machine around, and -this occupies a certain amount of time, and moreover this method of plowing requires' twoA drivers,

one seated on the tractor and one seated on the plow.

With capable haulage the headlands are not quite so large, but this method of plowing requires a larger number of hands',` and since it is necessary to displace the drum and the ixed point at both endsfof the field, great losses of time result therefrom.

The balance plow forming the subjectmatter of the present invention is so arranged as not to make it necessary to execute complicated maneuvers at the end of the land to be plowed. All that is necessary is to shift the plow sidewise a distance equal to the width of the group of furrows to be plowed and then bring the end of the plow previously out of operation into active effect when it will be ready to resume work.

'Furthermore a plow according to the present invention is simple and strong and does not require many hands to actuate it as'plows heretofore used.

plow shares arranged obliquely The plowaccording to the present invention is essentially characterized by. the fact that the motor is mounted on'a hollow axle extending between the two groups of plow shares or plow bodies, said axle resting in the rotary hollow hub or hubs of one or two driving'and steering wheels driven by the motor through Ysuitable connections extending through the hollow axle.

The present invention is also character.- ized by the construction of the motor, and by the arrangement of the groups of plow bodies, more particularly by the method of mounting these bodies, enabling each of the latter lto receive a lateral displacement independently of the other bodies. By way of example the invention isillustrated inv the accompanying drawing, in which y I Figure 1 shows an elevation of a balance plow with two driving and steering wheels. Fig. 2 is a corresponding plan. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional elevation on a larger scale, of the driving and steering wheels. f Fig. 4 shows separately a sectionalelevation of one of the plow bdies, the section being taken on the lineA-A'of Fig. 5. Fig. 5 shows a plan of the same body.

Figs. 6 and 7 show a balance plow comprising only one driving and steering wheel.

Fig. 8 shows, on an enlarged scale, a. portion of the driving gear illustrated lin Fig. 3. It will be seen from Figs. l to'.k 5 of the drawings the present balance plow 1 comprises a frame a, which is slightly V-shaped in a vertical plane, and the extremities of which, supporting the plow bodies,.are a'rranged obliquely. Y

ln the middle part. of the apparatus is arranged the motor consisting of two driving and steering wheels o andv Y These two wheels are driven by a motor c, actuating through the medium of a driving shaft, a clutch and change speed gearing c. The said motor and its .drvin'gme'mbers are located in a casing d placed between the Vtwo wheels and f w The motion of the motor c is transmitted to the latter in the following fmanner The wheels and are mountedv aty the ends of a hollow axle e, connected toV the frame a. l

rthrough the medium of a differential f2 to two horizontal shafts g and 'g' which are located in the axis ofV the hollow axle e and upon which the wheels Z) and 5 rotate.

With this end in view each of the wheels b and e can rotate about two trunnions h 7L placed in the vertical 'plane Vof the wheel -and integral with the axle e. These trimniensare engaged in two sleeves 7b2 virtually integral with a hub k3 upon which rims h4 can turn to which are Vfixed flange rings if supporting the rim of` thewheel.

lThose angulark displacements Vare 'communicated to the 'wheels' by means of a lever provided with a toothed sector meshingV with a pinion keyed on to theishaft of the steeringhandwheels i.

lnside the support oi the trunnions it and it of each wheel is arranged a setvot bevel geark wheels, comprising the pinions, j, y" and j2. The Apinion j2 is virtually'integral `with a shaft 7c bearing a pinion 7c', gearing with a toothed 'rim 7a2 virtually integral with one "of the flange rings of thewheel and permitting of the driving thereof. The pinions j'and j are loosely mounted on the shaft g and are adapted to bev alternately engaged by a longitudinally slidable clutch member or sleeve Z driven by the shaftzg. According as the sleeve Z engages the. pinion or j', theshaft k, and consequently the driving wheel, will be rotated in one direction or in the opposite direction. The longitudinal movement of the sleevel Z parted thereto by means of an actuating rod Z3 (Fig. 8) slidably mounted in the hollow shaft g" and providedy at one end with. a projectionflzwhich extends through alongitudinal Yslot gzinsaid shalt and engages vthe clutch sleeveV Z.

f lOn the axlee are -ormed two bearings Z', upon which arexed the litting sides or the plow and this axle rests on two damping springs/m.l f f At each end of the frame a are arranged the parts necessary for adjusting the height of the'plowbodies. lhe supportingwheel a of each part of the plow is mounted on a cranked axle n pivoting about an axis oi' articulation in such a way as to permit of the depth or draft of the plow shares to be varied. i

The lifting of each part of the plow is effected by meansof a vdevice comprising guides for slidingmembers. The supporting axle is providedwith a rack o with which there gears, on each side `a worm 'wheel oV Vactuated by a'worm carried'by a shaft o2 operated by hand means of a hand wheel Vo3, or by the motor in the casey ofl automatic lifting.

v As hereinbefore set forth the frame a earries on each side the plow bodies. Each of these bodies comprises a plow share p supported by a beam p upon which are also mounted the mold board and thecolter. The beam p is an easy trictional tit in a horizontal support g, which is angularly displaceableabout a pivot g', engaged in sleeves virtually integral with the 'frame t (Figs.

Thissupport lsnormally maintained in the longitudinal axis of the plow by a plate spring g2 connectedV to the iframe and engaged between two stops (13 virtually integral with this support g. This spring allows of angular displacements of the said support in the event of the plow share being turned aside in the ground by any obstacle.

Moreover inside the support Q is arranged a coil spring 1", bearing on a ring r, which is fixed by means of a'safety peg r2 on to -the beam p', and through the mediumof which the body is connected to the support.

This spring 1" constitutes a traction damper for the corresponding plow body, which is displ'aceable independently of the othersin a longitudinal plane, inthe event of its meeting with an obstacle in the ground. If this obstacle cannot be overcome, the safety peg breaks, and the plow share leaves its plow bodies, it becomes possible under all circumstances to guide the plow, the lateral displacement of the bodies being independent of the position of theaxle of the driving and steering wheels. y

y It is likewiser to be observed' that in the presenty machine the' mold Y.boards Yof the plow shares of both parts of the plow are arranged in such a way as lto turn the earth in the same direction, 'irrespective or" the direction inV which the machine `may be working, in such a way as to ellect the type of plowing called level plowing.

Upon arriving at the end of the ield, all that is necessary, in order to be ready to startagainin the opposite directiomis to tip over the machine. y

This arrangement of the mold boards in conjunction with that of the `machine, in which the 'driving members are placed in the center of the said apparatus, enables plowing to be done without headlands and without leavingany part unworked. t

Furthermore'the bearing pressure. which is generallyinsufiicient in ordinary balance plows, is insured, in the present'machine, by part Vof the power of themotor, which works by pressingthe hinder plow on to the ground. i

In this constructional form the It will be understood from the above that l this plow occupies the minimum amount of replace the running wheels of the ordinary balance plows.

Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawing show another constructional form of the balance plow previously described.

comprises a single driving and steering wheel o? mounted on a hollow supporting axle, to the ends of which are fixed, on one side the motor c and on the other side the clutch and the change-speed gear c. rllhis axle is mounted on a frameV s, to which are fixed the two parts of the plow, which each comprise a supporting axle s', at the ends of which are arranged the wheels t and t that run on the land and in the furrow.

The beams of the plow bodies are engaged in supports g capable of pivoting about trunnions u vin order to allow of angular displacements of the bodies. The latter are also provided with buffer draw springs and with safety-peg rings, as hereinbefore set forth.

Jointed connecting rods o connected to supports virtually integral with the supporting axle s and to cross bars fv, in which there pivot the trunnions u, enable the plow bodies to be displaced in a vertical plane.

The plow with a single driving and steering wheel presents the same advantages as the one with two wheels. The modifications it exhibits are only due to the altered dimensions, the two types of plows being constructed on the same principle.

The arrangements set forth are only given by way of example, and the forms, dimensions and devices of detail may vary according to circumstances without departing from the principle of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

What claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. balanced motor plow comprising a hollow axle, a substantially if-shaped frame connected to said axle, two sets of plow shares carried by said frame and symmetrically arranged with respect to said axle, a motor rigidly mounted on said axle, a wheel rotatably mounted on said axle and a connection between said motor and wheel, said connection extending through said axle.

2. A balanced motor plow comprising a hollow axle, a substantially V-shaped frame connected to said axle, two sets of plow shares carried by said frame and symmetrically arranged with respect to said axle, a motor rigidly mounted on said axle, a rim co-axial with said axle, said rim being adapted to pivot about a vertical axis, a

plow only wheel rotatably mounted onsaid rim, and a connection between said motor and wheel, said connection being supported within said axle.

3. A balanced motor plow ycomprising a hollow axle, a substantially V-shaped frame connected to said axle, plow shares pivoted to said frame and symmetrically arranged with respect to said axle, a motor carried by said axle, a pair of radial trunnions rigid with said axle, a rim cofaxial with said axle pivotally mounted on said trunnions, a

wheel rotatably mounted on said rim, and a connection between said motor and wheel extending through said axle and one of said trunnions.

4. A power-actuated balance plow comprisingy two symmetrical groups of plow shares, two driving and steering wheels arranged in the middle part of the implement, a hollow axle on which both wheels are rotatably` mounted, a V-shaped frame connected to the hollow axle and the two groups of plow shares, a motor actuating the wheels through the medium of a clutching device and of a change speed gear, the said motor,

.clutching device and change speed gear being supported by said axle and arranged between the two wheels, and means extending through said axle for transmitting the motion of the change speed gear to the two wheels.

5. A power-actuated balance plow comprising two symmetrical groups of,y plow shares, two driving and steering wheels ar' ranged in the middle part of the implement, a hollow axle on which both wheels are rotatably mounted, a V-shaped frame connected to the hollow axle and the two groups of plow shares, a motor, a clutching device and a change speed gear supported by said axle and arranged between the two wheels, and means comprising a worm a toothed wheel and a diiferential, and two horizontal shafts located with the hollow axle for transmitting motion from said change speed gear to said wheels.

6. A power-actuated balance plow comprising two symmetrical groups of plow shares, two driving and steering wheels arranged in the middle part of the implement, a hollow axle on which both wheels are rotatably mounted, a V-shaped frame connected to the hollow axle and the two groupsl of plow shares, a motor, a clutching device and a change speed gear supported by said axle and arranged between the two wheels, and driving connections between said change speed gear and wheels comprising a worm, a toothed wheel and a differential, two horizontal shafts located within the hollow axle, groups of bevel pinions located in the axis of the two wheels and actuated by the horizontal shafts, and means extending in vertical planes passing through each wheel for transmitting to said wheels the motion of 7 tatably mounted, a V-shaped frame connected to the' hollow axle and the two groups oi' plow shares, a motor, a clutching device and a change speed gear supported by said axle and arranged between the two wheels, driv ing connections between said change speed` gear and wheels comprising a worm, a toothed wheel and a diierential, two horizontal shafts located within the hollow axle, groups of bevel pinions, located in the axis of the two wheels,

a crown gear secured to each wheel and vertical shafts driven by pinions and adapted to rotate said crown gears,

and a claw clutch arranged between the pinions of each group for altering the direction in which the wheels rotate.

i 8. A power-actuated balance plow comprising two driving and steering wheels, a

hollow axle on which the two wheels are rotatably mounted, a frame connected to the axle, a motor carried by said axle, driving connections between said motor and wheels extending through said axle, two symmetrical groups of plow shares withrtheir beams A arranged on opposite sides 'of the driving wheels, a support for each beam pivoted on the :trame for horizontal movement, a plate spring holding each beam in the longitudinal axis of the plow, a damping spring interposed between each beam and its support, and a safety peg for holding each beam in its support.

This foregoing specication of my poweractuated balance plow, signed by me this 17th day of April, 1918. v Y

cHARLEs MARiUs MOTTE 1Witnesses CHAs. P. Pruisen', FRANQoIs WEBER. 

